#MAGFAB: Queen Charlotte's 'Power Play' in Harper's Bazaar UK June 2023
The brand new Netflix show “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” is inspired by actor Golda Rosheuvel’s role as “Bridgerton’s” feisty Queen Charlotte. Now, a younger India Amarteifio stars as the younger face of the monarch in the new spin-off series prequel.
Miranda Almond styles the two actors in ‘Power Play’, lensed by Luc Braquet [IG] for Harper’s Bazaar UK’s [IG] June 2023 issue./ Hair by Dionne Smith & Nicola Harrowell; makeup by Kenneth Soh & Claire de Graft
Obviously, the Queen Charlotte of Shondaland fame is not a real person. But her lineage — which suggests Black heritage — continues to be debated, even by historians. Charlotte’s story is important because it raises questions about representation, empire, and wealth.
Even Shonda Rhimes and actor Golda Rosheuvel stress that the purpose of putting Queen Charlotte front and center in the new Netflix spinoff is to inspire, even jumpstart new research around her ancestry.
"Our Queen Charlotte is based on and inspired by a real person, but is a fictional construct. We have made a beautiful, fantastical show with the hope that it makes people stop and wonder, 'Actually, who was this remarkable woman?' and go to find out more," she says. "Because she deserves it. She was part of the abolitionist movement; she knew Mozart; was a great patron of the arts."
Advancing the Queen Charlotte Black Queen Argument
Some historians believe that Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz had African ancestry. One such historian, Mario de Valdes y Cocom, argued in a 2009 issue of PBS “Frontline” that her features were conspicuously African.
Valdes suggests that Scottish portraitist Allan Ramsay may have emphasized these characteristics for political reasons since he was an anti-slavery activist. He notes that many portraits and caricatures of the Queen show her with darker skin and hair. Queen Charlotte’s physician Baron Stockmar described her as having a true mulatto face.
The House of Windsor has never denied Queen Charlotte’s claimed African ancestry. David Buck, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson, was quoted by the Boston Globe as saying “This has been rumored for years and years. It is a matter of history, and frankly, we’ve got far more important things to talk about.”
At the time Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018, the Washington Post covered the topic that Markle would not be the first biracial or African heritage member of Britain’s royal family. They certainly gave credence to Queen Charlotte’s heritage.
It seems important to understand that if all of these claims abbout Charlotte are true, many scholars argue that the nine generation distance between Queen Charlotte and her alleged African ancestor is far too great for her to be considered a Black queen.
In fact, some scholars argue that the assertion is racist and inspired by America’s “one drop of blood” rule. Furthermore, the nine-decades argument probably makes half of European royalty as Black.
Queen Charlotte birthed 15 children, with 13 living to adulthood, married to an increasingly unstable and violent, mentally-ill royal husband remained diligent and dignified before and after taking on more royal duties with King George III incapacitation in 1788, when his mental illness became full-blown.
Queen Charlotte, the Blue Stockings Society supporter, argued:
"I am of the opinion that if women had the same advantages as men in their education they might do as well.”
There is no disagreement that during Queen Charlotte’s time, slavery was prevalent and she was a vocal anti-slavery campaigner. She worked to abolish slave trade, fought against sugar plantations that relied on the free labor of Africans, and was instrumental in the development of the smallpox vaccine.
Frogmore House and Cottage
The Queen’s interest in botany began in the 1770s when she lived at Kew Palace and co-founded Kew Gardens, houses the "largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world". Queen Charlotte bought Frogmore House in 1792, where she and her unmarried daughters used Frogmore House as a country retreat not far from Kew Palace. The ladies indulged in their hobbies such as painting, drawing, needlework, reading and botany. Charlotte then commissioned the building of Frogmore Cottage on the grounds near Frogmore House.
And we all know who moved to Frogmore Cottage.
Her words remind us of America’s second President John Adams’ wife Abigail, who was both an early advocate of women’s rights and an abolitionist bitterly opposed to slavery.
In fact, in 1784 Abigail Adams sailed to Europe to join her husband and son where John Adams was serving as U.S. minister to Great Britain. Abigail Adams was presented to Queen Charlotte in June 1785.
A condition of Charlotte’s marriage to George III was to abstain from any involvement in politics. Her letters revealed a significant interest in the American colonies, but she abided by the restriction.
Queen Charlotte’s reign lasted from May 19, 1744 - November 17, 1818. Ironically, Abigal Adams also passed on three weeks earlier on October 28, 1818.
#RHOA: WHAT’S THE TEA? Season 15 Losing Viewers at Rapid Pace
Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 15 is four episodes into its run so far, but things might be taking a sour turn before we’ve even reached the halfway mark.
So far, RHOA Season 15 feels like pretty standard Real Housewives fare. The most recent episode saw plenty of drama, including Marlo Hampton banging and kicking against Kenya Moore’s door, despite Kenya’s child being with her in the same room.
While that sounds exciting and drama-packed as ever, the viewership numbers don’t communicate any excitement. But we might’ve known this season would be a mixed bag from the moment the taglines were revealed.
Bravo execs are starting to sweat
Yes, RHOA Season 15, Episode 4 saw the lowest viewership for the series in years. The season premiere debuted with a decent 834,000 viewers, but the numbers have been dipping since then. The most recent episode saw only 657,000 viewers and a severe underperformance with the target demographic of 18-49-year-olds at only 20%.
So far, Season 15 has averaged 748,500 viewers per episode. Compare that to last season’s average, 950,000, and to Seasons 12 and 13 with an average viewership of 1.8 million and 1.25 million respectively. Previous seasons also had a much stronger hold on the target demographic, ranging from 30-60%.
But things have been in decline for quite a while now, and sentiments on Twitter reflect the low viewership. Those who’ve still tuned into Season 15 have reported it as boring and lackluster. So, what can the show do in the future? Well, one obvious answer would be to get Kim Zolciak back asap. She’s apparently been begging Bravo for a job anyway, and she’s all anyone can talk about.
But on the flip side, many fans are calling for a hard reset, not just for Atlanta, but for the Housewives franchise in general. Many believe going in a younger direction might help reach the target demographic. All in all, Season 15 might still be too young to call it a dud, but we’ll just have to wait and see how things shake up.
Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 15 continues Sundays at 9 pm E.T. on Bravo.
SO Y'ALL DO YOU THINK RHOA SEASON 15 DOOMED?
#MusicNews: Janelle Monae Is Hitting the Road for The Age of Pleasure 2023 North American Tour:
Janelle Monáe is gearing up to take her forthcoming album, The Age of Pleasure, on the road. The singer revealed details for a 2023 North American tour on Wednesday (May 31).
The star will kick off the 26-date trek on Aug. 30 at WAMU Theater in Seattle, and will make stops in Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, New York City and more before wrapping up in Inglewood, Calif., at the YouTube Theater on Oct. 18.
Tickets for the Age of Pleasure tour will go on sale in a Verizon presale beginning Thursday, June 1, at 10 a.m. local time. General onsale for the tour will begin starting Wednesday, June 7, at 10 a.m. local time on Ticketmaster.com.
The Age of Pleasure will arrive on June 9 via Atlantic Records. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the singer explained that the record is inspired by the sounds of the Black diaspora of then and now.
“It was inspired by all of my friends, my community of folks who are from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, the Caribbean, Atlanta, L.A., Chicago,” she said. “Seeing all of us together in our Blackness, in the love that we had in our eyes for each other. People from the continent f–k around with trap from Atlanta. You know what I’m saying? I love how the diaspora — we talk to each other.”
See the official poster and the full list of dates for the Age of Pleasure tour below.
AGE OF PLEASURE TOUR DATES:
Wed Aug. 30 – Seattle, Wash. – WAMU Theater
Thu Aug. 31 – Vancouver, BC – UBC – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
Sat Sep. 2 – Portland, Ore. – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Wed Sep. 6 –Salt Lake City, Utah – The Complex
Thu Sep. 7 – Morrison, Colo. – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Sat Sep. 9 – Kansas City, Mo. – The Midland Theatre
Mon Sep. 11 – Minneapolis, Minn. – Armory
Wed Sep. 13 – St. Louis, Mo. – Stifel Theatre
Thu Sep. 14 – Chicago, Ill. – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
Sun Sep. 17 – Boston, Mass. – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Mon Sep. 18 – Philadelphia, Penn. – The Met
Wed Sep. 20 – Montreal, QB – Mtelus
Thu Sep. 21 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
Sun Sep. 24 – Washington, D.C. – The Anthem*
Tue Sep. 26 – New York City, N.Y. – Radio City Music Hall
Thu Sep. 28 – Brooklyn, N.Y. – Kings Theatre
Mon Oct. 2 – Charlotte, N.C. – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tue Oct. 3 – Nashville, Tenn. – Ryman Auditorium
Wed Oct. 4 – Birmingham, Ala. – Avondale Brewing Company
Fri Oct. 6 – Atlanta, Ga. – Fox Theatre Atlanta
Mon Oct. 9 – Dallas, Texas – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Tue Oct. 10 – Houston, Texas – Bayou Music Center
Wed Oct. 11 – Austin, Texas – Moody Amphitheater
Sun Oct. 15 – Phoenix, Ariz. – Arizona Financial Theatre
Tue Oct. 17 – San Francisco, Calif. – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Wed Oct. 18 – Inglewood, Calif. – YouTube Theater
#HipHopNews: 2PAC To Finally Receive Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
2Pac will finally receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the announcement comes just weeks before what would be the late rapper’s 52nd birthday.
According toVariety, who broke the news on Wednesday (May 31), Tupac’s star ceremony will be held on Hollywood BLVD. on June 7 and he’ll receive the 2,758th spot on the famed walk. The star will be presented by West Coast radio legend Big Boy and Pac’s sister Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur.
The California love has been a long time coming for Pac, who was shot in Las Vegas in the hours following a Mike Tyson fight on September 7, 1996 and died in a local hospital six days later.
The polarizing rap star was loved for much more than his multi-platinum albums, as he was a decorated actor with roles in Juice, Poetic Justice, Above the Rim and Gridlock’d throughout the ’90s.
Being the son of a Black Panther, 2Pac also fancied himself a revolutionary and took social activism seriously throughout his 25 years on earth.
Even over 25 years after his passing, Shakur’s legacy is still being honored. In addition to the Hollywood star, a street will be renamed after him in Oakland, where his career began as a member of Digital Underground.
A portion of MacArthur Boulevard between Grand Avenue and Van Buren Avenue will now be known as “Tupac Shakur Way.” The decision to rename the portion of the street was brought forth by Councilmember Carroll Fife.
“Tupac Shakur’s legacy will continue through his contributions in art and social outreach, through his family and fans, touching countless lives of children and elders over the years while alive and after his death, taken too young by gun violence,” read the resolution for the street name change.
The acclaimed Dear Mama documentary examining 2Pac’s life through his mother, Afeni’s story is now available on Hulu. Chance The Rapper had high praise for Dear Mama and crowned the five-part doc as “probably the best documentary” he’s ever seen.
Kim Cattrall Planning A Top Secret Return To “Sex And The City” Sequel Series
Kim Cattrall is returning to the “Sex and the City” franchise after initially claiming she would never reprise her famous role.
When the “Sex and the City” sequel series “And Just Like That” was announced, Cattrall made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with it. This is largely due to a highly publicized feud with co-star Sarah Jessica Parker. However, it appears the 66-year-old had a change of heart that has stunned show staffers.
A spokesperson for the show confirmed to the New York Post that Cattrall’s character Samantha would be absent for most of season two. However, Cattrall will be seen towards the end in what is being called a “cliffhanger.” Details surrounding what that scene will entail remain under lock and key. What is known is that the shot was filmed in March in a parking garage near Silvercup Studios in Queens, New York where much of the series is filmed. The scene was kept a secret from most of the production, with Cattrall arriving in an SUV with dark-tinted windows to hide her identity. The cliffhanger is said to be a set-up for season three, which is rumored to welcome Cattrall back as a full-time cast member.
Season one of “And Just Like That” addressed Samantha’s absence by having her character move to London to run her PR business. Parker’s character, Carrie, sent texts to her in the inaugural season. Aside from brief mentions, Samantha’s role was largely written out. Therefore, it’ll be interesting to see how writers create a build-up to the highly anticipated scene.
Season two of “And Just Like That” will premiere on June 22nd, exclusively on Max, formally known as HBO Max.
Sean "Diddy" Combs Sues Liquor Giant Diageo, Accusing It Of Racism
Music producer and rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs is suing spirits company Diageo, accusing it of neglecting their business agreement and failing to invest in his liquor brands because he is Black.
The complaint, filed Wednesday with the New York Supreme Court, said that while Diageo publicly promotes itself as a leader on diversity, Combs and his company found it unwilling to treat its Black partners equally.
Combs said Diageo "kneecapped" his Ciroc Vodka and DeLeon Tequila brands by depriving them of resources after they were "typecasted" as "Black brands" meant only for "urban" consumers.
Diageo and its executives "put their feet on the neck of Mr. Combs' brands," the suit said.
"In a business where production, distribution, and sales are the pillars of success, Ciroc and DeLeon have been starved of resources for all three."
In a statement emailed to Agence France-Presse, Diageo denied the allegations, describing its 15-year partnership with Combs as "productive and mutually beneficial."
"This is a business dispute, and we are saddened that Mr. Combs has chosen to recast this matter as anything other than that," a spokesperson said.
"Our steadfast commitment to diversity within our company and the communities we serve is something we take very seriously. We categorically deny the allegations that have been made and will vigorously defend ourselves in the appropriate forum."
The suit also claimed the U.K.-based drinks giant devoted more attention and offered better support to other celebrity-backed competing brands, such as George Clooney's Casamigos and Ryan Reynolds' Aviation Gin, while failing to meet its promises for investments in Combs Wines and Spirits.
"Diageo has treated Mr. Combs and his brands worse than others because he is Black," the suit said, adding that one of the company's managers "directly acknowledged the company's racist undertones in 2019."
According to the suit, the manager told Combs that "race was part of the reason Diageo limited the neighborhoods where the Combs brands were distributed," and that if he were "Martha Stewart" things would be different.
Combs, a Grammy-winning rapper who has gone by the stage names Puff Daddy, P Diddy and Diddy, said in the complaint he intends to seek billions of dollars in damages in other legal proceedings against Diageo.
Diageo said in its statement it was "disappointed our efforts to resolve this business dispute amicably have been ignored."
"While we respect Mr. Combs as an artist and entrepreneur, his allegations lack merit, and we are confident the facts will show that he has been treated fairly."
Adidas’s Kanye West, Yeezy shoes are back on sale
Adidas ended its yearslong partnership with Ye in late October after his antisemitic remarks and harmful behavior.
Some of Adidas’ remaining Yeezy shoes are back on sale — months after the German sportswear company cut ties with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West.
Adidas ended its yearslong partnership with Ye in late October, in light of his antisemitic remarks and other harmful behavior. In the months that followed, the fate of $1.3 billion worth of unsold Yeezys remained unknown — until earlier this month, when Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden announced the company would be selling a portion of the remaining inventory and donating some of the proceeds to social justice organizations.
The first batch of Adidas’ remaining Yeezys went on sale Wednesday. At this time, the sneakers appear to be available through Adidas’ app “Confirmed,” according to the retailer’s website. Part of the profits will be donated to organizations including the Anti-Defamation League and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, Adidas says.
Image: Kanye West at Milk Studios on June 28, 2016 in Hollywood, Calif.
Wednesday’s release marks the first time that Adidas has sold Yeezys since the partnership termination in October. The Yeezy products up for sale include already-existing designs as well as those that were initiated in 2022 and set to be released in 2023, Adidas previously noted.
“We believe (selling and donating these Yeezys) is the best solution as it respects the created designs and produced shoes, it works for our people, resolves an inventory problem, and will have a positive impact in our communities,” Gulden said in an May 19 statement.
At a May 11 annual shareholder meeting, Gulden explained the company made the decision to sell and donate Yeezys after speaking with nongovernmental organizations and groups that were harmed by Ye’s comments and actions.
Some details of Adidas’ plans are still unclear — including how many Yeezys will eventually go on sale and what portion of sales will be donated. The Associated Press reached out to Adidas for further information Wednesday.
Cutting ties with Ye cost Adidas hundreds of millions of dollars — contributing to a loss of $655 million in sales for the last three months of 2022, which helped drive the company to a quarterly net loss of 513 million euros.
Adidas reported $441 million in lost sales at the start of 2023, the company announced this month.
Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is booked into prison in Texas to begin serving 11-year sentence
Net sales declined 1% in the first quarter, to 5.27 billion euros, the company said. It reported a net loss of 24 million euros, a plunge from a profit of 310 million euros in the same period a year ago.
Operating profit, which excludes some items like taxes, was down to 60 million euros from 437 million euros a year earlier.
Meanwhile, investors also filed a class-action lawsuit against Adidas in late April, alleging the company knew about offensive remarks and harmful behavior from Ye years before terminating its pact with him. Adidas has pushed back on the allegations
Lizzo Slams Social Media Body Shamers: “I'm Not Trying To BE Fat”
Lizzo is tired of the conversations concerning her body. Today (May 31), the “2 Be Loved” songstress shared several lengthy messages on social media condemning trolls who insist on spreading negative narratives about her health and weight.
“I JUST logged on the app, and this is the type of s**t I see about me on a daily basis. It’s really starting to make me hate the world,” she began. Her message was in response to someone who asked, “How is Lizzo still THIS fat when she’s constantly moving this much on stage?! I wonder what she must be eating.” The 35-year-old added, “I’m tired of explaining myself all the time, and I just wanna get on this app [without] seeing my name in some bulls**t.” Her tweets have since been protected and only confirmed followers can view them.
Although she’s now vetting who has access to her page, screenshots are still being shared online. One person came up with their own theory about her weight, saying, “I don’t think [Lizzo] wants to be smaller… If she did, she would be. It’s her brand. If she’s working with nutritionists, they’re probably showing her how to eat healthy and maintain her size.” The “Rumors” hitmaker responded, “Y’all really need to touch grass. I’m not trying to BE fat. I’m not trying to BE smaller. I’m literally just trying to live and be healthy. This is what my body looks like even when I’m eating super clean and working out! Y’all speak on s**t y’all know NOTHING ABOUT, and I’m starting to get heated.”
The “Good As Hell” hitmaker concluded her messages by revealing, “Y’all don’t know how close I be to giving up on everyone, and quitting, and enjoying my money and my man on a F**KING FARM.” Fans and peers alike offered their support. “Love to Lizzo. Folks that are jealous and miserable can be annoying. Keep being you,” comedian Loni Love tweeted.
Hollywood Stars Emerged At The 'Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse' World Premiere
Celebrities recently stepped out in their best dress for the highly anticipated summer film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
On Tuesday (March 30), Sony Pictures Animations held the movie’s world premiere at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The upcoming film is the second installment in the animated Spider-Man universe. A few stars to walk the premiere’s red carpet included Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Offset, and Metro Boomin.
In 2021, Rae confirmed her role in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse when she took to her Instagram Story. She wrote, “The way I have loved Spider-Man since the third grade. A dream come true,” along with a screenshot of an article.
Offset attended the premiere with a few familiar faces. He brought his three sons: 13-year-old Jordan Cephus, 8-year-old Kody Cephus, and 20-month-old Wave Cephus. The trio of boys shined on the red carpet, sporting Black and red attire. The 31-year-old lyricist added to the group’s ensemble paying homage to the late Michael Jackson. The last time Offset honored the music legend, he attended The Little Mermaid’s world premiere with his daughters, 8-year-old Kalea Cephus and 4-year-old Kulture Cephus.
While the Atlanta rapper and Boomin’s appearance was only in support of the film, Rae and Kaluuya are a part of the cast as Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman) and Spider-Punk. Starring alongside them are Brian Tyree Henry, Shameik Moore, Lauren Vélez, and many more.
The 2023 animation sees Brooklyn’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man catapulted across the Multiverse after reuniting with Gwen Stacy. He finds a group of Spider-People tasked with protecting its very existence. However, when the heroes disagree on handling the threat, Miles is pitted against his fellow Spiders. He is left redefining what a hero means to save those he loves most, according to the film’s official logline.
Actor Danny Masterson Found Guilty Of Raping 2 Women
A jury has found “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson guilty of raping two women at his Hollywood Hills home in the early 2000s, according to The Associated Press.
The jury was not able to come to a verdict on an additional count of rape involving a third woman.
This was the second trial for the 47-year-old actor and Scientologist. Prosecutors said Scientology officials protected Masterson for years after he drugged and sexually assaulted the women. The women, who were also Scientologists, testified that the church barred them from making reports to police.
Jurors deliberated for 8 days before returning their verdict. Minutes after it was read, Masterson was placed in handcuffs and removed from the courtroom while his wife, former actor and model Bijou Phillips, cried, according to the AP. The judge did not announce a sentencing date but said a hearing would be held on Aug. 4. Masterson must remain in jail without bail until then. He could be sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for the crimes.
The original trial ended on Nov. 30, 2022, with the jury deadlocked on all counts after extended deliberations, which had to be restarted when two jurors got COVID.
Masterson pleaded not guilty to the charges and didn’t testify in his own defense in either trial.
This second jury, comprising seven women and five men, was the first to hear allegations that Masterson had drugged his victims, which Judge Charlaine Olmedo had not allowed in the original trial. That jury only heard that the women had been “incapacitated” when Masterson allegedly raped them in separate incidents at his home between 2001 and 2003.
“The defendant drugs his victims to gain control. He does this to take away his victims’ ability to consent,” Deputy District Attorney Ariel Anson told the jury in her closing argument on May 16, according to The Associated Press.
“You don’t want to have sex? You don’t have a choice,” Anson said. “The defendant makes that choice for these victims. And he does it over and over and over again.”
The first victim to testify said that Masterson smothered her with a pillow and threatened her with a gun during an attack in 2003, while she was semiconscious after drinking from a glass of alcohol he had served her.
Masterson claimed that he had consensual sex with the women. His defense attorney Philip Cohen sought to discredit the women in his closing argument, pointing out inconsistencies in their stories and suggesting that the prosecution focused on Scientology to distract from “other problems” with the case, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“I am experiencing a complex array of emotions — relief, exhaustion, strength, sadness — knowing that my abuser, Danny Masterson, will face accountability for his criminal behavior,” one of the women, known as Jane Doe 2, said in a statement provided to HuffPost by her attorneys, Boies Schiller Flexner. “I am disappointed that he was not convicted on all counts, but take great solace in the fact that he, the Church of Scientology, and others, will have to fully account for their abhorrent actions in civil court.”
“I thank the jury for its service, and while I’m encouraged that Danny Masterson will face some criminal punishment, I am devastated that he has dodged criminal accountability for his heinous conduct against me,” said Jane Doe 3, on whose charge the jury deadlocked, in a statement also provided by Boies Schiller Flexner. “Despite my disappointment in this outcome, I remain determined to secure justice, including in civil court, where I, along with my co-plaintiffs, will shine a light on how Scientology and other conspirators enabled and sought to cover up Masterson’s monstrous behavior.”
The judge ruled that more evidence related to Scientology could be heard in this second trial ― allowing former Scientology official Claire Headley to testify as an expert witness to push back on church denials about its policies and principles, which critics have described as controlling and abusive.
The women, who are no longer Scientologists, testified that the church barred them from reporting the assaults to police, blamed them for the alleged rapes, and harassed, intimidated and stalked them. Headley, who sued the church in 2009 after years of rising through the ranks of its Sea Org religious order, testified that “it is policy that you do not call police” without “specific authorization” — and that “by the laws of Scientology, it would be a high crime” to report a fellow Scientologist to the police without permission.
Church of Scientology spokesperson Karin Pouw flatly denied that such policies exist in the church. “The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone, Scientologists or not, to law enforcement,” Pouw said in a statement to HuffPost. She also called the stalking and harassment allegations “an attempted money grab” by the alleged victims who are also suing Masterson and the church in a civil suit.
In closing arguments, Anson said, “The church taught his victims, ‘Rape isn’t rape, you caused this, and above all, you are never allowed to go to law enforcement,’” calling Masterson “untouchable” because of his celebrity status in Scientology, the AP reported.
During jurors’ deliberations, Leah Remini posted a letter that she claimed a mother of one of the victims sent to Scientology leader David Miscavige in 2004, listing graphic details of Masterson’s alleged sexual assaults. The mother concluded by asking whether the church tried to persuade her daughter to “perjure herself so that their celeb can walk scout [sic] free” and whether “celebs are exempt” from “justice codes.”
Masterson is best known for playing Steven Hyde on all eight seasons of “That ’70s Show,” which aired on Fox from 1998 to 2006. Masterson was the only original member of the cast not to appear in “That ’90s Show,” a Netflix sequel series that debuted in January.
Representatives for Masterson did not immediately comment on Wednesday.
“We want to express our gratitude to the three women who came forward and bravely shared their experiences,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement after the verdict. “Their courage and strength have been an inspiration to us all. While we are disappointed that the jury did not convict on all counts, we respect their decision.”
Shannon Sharpe Reportedly Exiting FS1's 'Undisputed'
Shannon Sharpe is leaving FS1's Undisputed, according to the New York Post.
Sharpe has reportedly reached a buyout agreement with Fox Sports. Sources tell the newspaper that his final show will be next month, following the conclusion of the NBA Finals.
The Post writes that Club Shay Shay, the podcast hosted by Sharpe, will also cut ties with the network.
Sharpe and Skip Bayless launched Undisputed in September 2016, months after the TV personality parted ways with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's First Take. Even though the two have had their fair share of heated moments, Skip seemed to cross the line with a tweet in January questioning why the NFL would postpone a "crucial" regular season game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals after Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field.
The NFL Hall of Famer didn't appear on Undisputed the following day. When he returned, Sharpe made it clear that he was a no-show over the tweet, but Bayless refused to take it down, standing by what he wrote.
Shannon Sharpe's Los Angeles Home Burglarized, $1 Million Worth of Belongings Stolen
Tensions arose the month prior when Skip claimed Sharpe was jealous of Tom Brady because "he's still playing at a high level at 45 when you had to stop at 35." The eight-time Pro Bowler defended his résumé, saying, "You make it seem like I was a bum! I’m in the effing Hall of Fame! I got three Super Bowls!"
Sharpe revealed on Chris "Mad Dog" Russo's SiriusXM radio show in February that he and Bayless spoke privately after "things went over the line."
"The thing that I conveyed to Skip is that, ‘Look, we can disagree, but I want the color between the lines. I don’t want the disagreements to go outside of the lines,'" he said.
White NYC Lawyer Fired After Snatching Wig Off Random Black Woman
*New York attorney Anthony Orlich was fired after snatching the wig of a random Black woman.
Lizzy Ashliegh posted a video on TikTok that shows her confronting Orlich after he laid hands on her green wig as she walked around the city. The clip shows him ignoring her as she repeatedly asks for an explanation for his wild antics, The Root reports.
“Sir, for what f**king reason? For what reason? For what reason did you take my wig off?,” she asks Orlich.
“Because what made you think that that was the good thing to do? For what? For what? Why did you do that?” the woman continued.
In the footage, Orlich’s friends try to get him to apologize but he refuses.
After Ashliegh posted the clip to social media, internet sleuths quickly went to work and identified Orlich and where he was employed. Social media users contacted his job, Leader Berkon Colao & Silverstein LLP, demanding action be taken.
On Tuesday (May 30), the LinkedIn profile for Leader Berkon Colao & Silverstein LLP was updated with a statement that Orlich no longer works for the company as a litigator.
“We have been made aware of a video of a non-work related incident involving one of our associates circulating on social media,” the message stated, according to The Root. “We take seriously any inappropriate behavior by any employee, whether inside or outside the workplace. This associate is no longer with the Firm.”
Orlich has not yet issued the standard, “I’m sorry. I was intoxicated” apology in an effort to salvage his professional career and social credit.
Kim Cattrall Planning A Top Secret Return To “Sex And The City” Sequel Series
Kim Cattrall is returning to the “Sex and the City” franchise after initially claiming she would never reprise her famous role.
When the “Sex and the City” sequel series “And Just Like That” was announced, Cattrall made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with it. This is largely due to a highly publicized feud with co-star Sarah Jessica Parker. However, it appears the 66-year-old had a change of heart that has stunned show staffers.
A spokesperson for the show confirmed to the New York Post that Cattrall’s character Samantha would be absent for most of season two. However, Cattrall will be seen towards the end in what is being called a “cliffhanger.” Details surrounding what that scene will entail remain under lock and key. What is known is that the shot was filmed in March in a parking garage near Silvercup Studios in Queens, New York where much of the series is filmed. The scene was kept a secret from most of the production, with Cattrall arriving in an SUV with dark-tinted windows to hide her identity. The cliffhanger is said to be a set-up for season three, which is rumored to welcome Cattrall back as a full-time cast member.
Season one of “And Just Like That” addressed Samantha’s absence by having her character move to London to run her PR business. Parker’s character, Carrie, sent texts to her in the inaugural season. Aside from brief mentions, Samantha’s role was largely written out. Therefore, it’ll be interesting to see how writers create a build-up to the highly anticipated scene.
Season two of “And Just Like That” will premiere on June 22nd, exclusively on Max, formally known as HBO Max.
The Biden-McCarthy Debt Ceiling Deal Now Goes To Senate
Veering away from a default crisis, the House overwhelmingly approved a debt ceiling and budget cuts package, sending the deal that President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy negotiated to the Senate for swift passage in a matter of days, before a fast-approaching deadline.
The hard-fought compromise pleased few, but lawmakers assessed it was better than the alternative — a devastating economic upheaval if Congress failed to act. Tensions ran high as hard-right Republicans refused the deal, but Biden and McCarthy assembled a bipartisan coalition to push to passage on a robust 314-117 vote late Wednesday.
“We did pretty dang good,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said afterward.
Amid deep discontent from Republicans who said the spending restrictions did not go far enough, McCarthy said it is only a “first step."
Biden, watching the tally from Colorado Springs where Thursday he is scheduled to deliver the commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy, phoned McCarthy and the other congressional leaders after the vote. In a statement, he called the outcome “good news for the American people and the American economy.”
Washington is rushing after a long slog of debate to wrap up work on the package to ensure the government can keep paying its bills, and prevent financial upheaval at home and abroad. Next Monday is when the Treasury has said the U.S. would run short of money and risk a dangerous default.
Biden had been calling lawmakers directly to shore up backing. McCarthy worked to sell skeptical fellow Republicans, even fending off challenges to his leadership.
A similar bipartisan effort from Democrats and Republicans will be needed in the Senate to overcome objections.
Overall, the 99-page bill would make some inroads in curbing the nation’s deficits as Republicans demanded, without rolling back Trump-era tax breaks as Biden wanted. To pass it, Biden and McCarthy counted on support from the political center, a rarity in divided Washington.
A compromise, the package restricts spending for the next two years, suspends the debt ceiling into January 2025 and changes some policies, including imposing new work requirements for older Americans receiving food aid and greenlighting an Appalachian natural gas line that many Democrats oppose. It bolsters funds for defense and veterans, and guts new money for Internal Revenue Service agents.
The country reached its $3.14 trillion limit on January 19. To avoid a default since then, the Treasury has already put “extraordinary measures” in place, which means that it’s reordering some payments and putting off others to stretch the country’s cash as far as possible.Why the debt ceiling matters for your money
Raising the nation's debt limit, now $31 trillion, ensures Treasury can borrow to pay already incurred U.S. debts.
Top GOP deal negotiator Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana said Republicans were fighting for budget cuts after the past years of extra spending, first during the COVID-19 crisis and later with Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, with its historic investment to fight climate change paid for with revenues elsewhere.
But Republican Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the Freedom Caucus helping to lead the opposition, said, “My beef is that you cut a deal that shouldn’t have been cut.”
For weeks negotiators labored late into the night to strike the deal with the White House, and for days McCarthy has worked to build support among skeptics. At one point, aides wheeled in pizza at the Capitol the night before the vote as he walked Republicans through the details, fielded questions and encouraged them not to lose sight of the bill’s budget savings.
The speaker has faced a tough crowd. Cheered on by conservative senators and outside groups, the hard-right House Freedom Caucus lambasted the compromise as falling well short of the needed spending cuts, and they vowed to try to halt passage.
A much larger conservative faction, the Republican Study Committee, declined to take a position. Even rank-and-file centrist conservatives were unsure, leaving McCarthy searching for votes from his slim Republican majority.
Ominously, the conservatives warned of possibly trying to oust McCarthy over the compromise.
One influential Republican, former President Donald Trump, held his fire: "It is what it is,” he said of the deal in an interview with Iowa radio host Simon Conway.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said it was up to McCarthy to turn out Republican votes in the 435-member chamber, where 218 votes are needed for approval.
TreasuryHow to protect your investments and finances as debt default worries grow
As the tally faltered on an afternoon procedural vote, Jeffries stood silently and raised his green voting card, signaling that the Democrats would fill in the gap to ensure passage. They did, advancing the bill that hard-right Republicans, many from the Freedom Caucus, refused to back.
“Once again, House Democrats to the rescue to avoid a dangerous default,” said Jeffries, D-N.Y.
“What does that say about this extreme MAGA Republican majority?” he said about the party aligned with Trump’s ”Make America Great Again” political movement.
Social Security To Increase Payments By Largest Amount In 40 Years5 ways a debt default could affect you
Then, on the final vote hours later, Democrats again ensured passage, leading the tally as 71 Republicans bucked their majority and voted against it.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the spending restrictions in the package would reduce deficits by $1.5 trillion over the decade, a top goal for the Republicans trying to curb the debt load.
In a surprise that complicated Republicans' support, however, the CBO said their drive to impose work requirements on older Americans receiving food stamps would end up boosting spending by $2.1 billion over the time period. That's because the final deal exempts veterans and homeless people, expanding the food stamp rolls by 78,000 people monthly, the CBO said.
Liberal discontent, though, ran strong as nearly four dozen Democrats also broke away, decrying the new work requirements for older Americans, those 50-54, in the food aid program.
Some Democrats were also incensed that the White House negotiated into the deal changes to the landmark National Environmental Policy Act and approval of the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline natural gas project. The energy development is important to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., but many others oppose it as unhelpful in fighting climate change.
On Wall Street, stock prices were down Wednesday.
In the Senate, Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell are working for passage by week's end.
Schumer warned there is ”no room for error."
Senators, who have remained largely on the sidelines during much of the negotiations, are insisting on amendments to reshape the package. But making any changes at this stage seemed unlikely with so little time to spare before Monday's deadline.
She Was Dumped!
Wait, how would she pay?
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